Grumpy
09-18-2008, 08:43 AM
Phoenix Business Journal - by Dallas Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/search/results.html?Ntt=%22Dallas%20Business%20Journal%22&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode matchallpartial)
Southwest Airlines Co. (http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/gen/Southwest_Airlines%20Co_BB5762D0B37F4B539232A6BD50 74A3E6.html) says 200 pilots will begin testing a biometric screening system on Wednesday that's designed to analyze pilot fingerprints to ensure cockpit safety when boarding flights.
The screening project, referred to as SecureScreen, is in the testing phase with a specific group of Southwest pilots.
When the pilots signed up for the test, they agreed to give a fingerprint, which was then placed on a secure key file for the pilot. When the pilots walk through the test on Wednesday, they will hand their key file to the Transportation Security Administration, so examiners can compare the pilot's fingerprint to the official fingerprint on the key drive. The comparison must be made and validated before a pilot can board a plane.
The SecureScreen project was developed by the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations, the Maryland Aviation Authority, TSA officials and Chicago-based Priva Technologies.
The trial run will last for 60 days.
SecureScreen was developed in response to congressional directives to the TSA to enhance cockpit and flight deck security by giving crew members a separate screening checkpoint, where biometric comparisons can be made to validate their identity.
Southwest operates a hub out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Southwest Airlines Co. (http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/gen/Southwest_Airlines%20Co_BB5762D0B37F4B539232A6BD50 74A3E6.html) says 200 pilots will begin testing a biometric screening system on Wednesday that's designed to analyze pilot fingerprints to ensure cockpit safety when boarding flights.
The screening project, referred to as SecureScreen, is in the testing phase with a specific group of Southwest pilots.
When the pilots signed up for the test, they agreed to give a fingerprint, which was then placed on a secure key file for the pilot. When the pilots walk through the test on Wednesday, they will hand their key file to the Transportation Security Administration, so examiners can compare the pilot's fingerprint to the official fingerprint on the key drive. The comparison must be made and validated before a pilot can board a plane.
The SecureScreen project was developed by the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations, the Maryland Aviation Authority, TSA officials and Chicago-based Priva Technologies.
The trial run will last for 60 days.
SecureScreen was developed in response to congressional directives to the TSA to enhance cockpit and flight deck security by giving crew members a separate screening checkpoint, where biometric comparisons can be made to validate their identity.
Southwest operates a hub out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.